Radford holds joint public hearing on rezoning request for 901 Eighth Street; no public comment

At a joint meeting of the Radford City Council and Planning Commission, staff opened and closed a public hearing on a rezoning request for 901 Eighth Street after no members of the public came forward to comment.

Melissa Skelton, planning staff, said the applicant is seeking zoning changes and lot-line realignment so the existing business and apartments conform to the city’s zoning map. "This request will bring the existing B-1 portion into compliance, and then the remainder of the property will be developed into 2 single family dwelling units," Skelton told the commission and council.

Skelton said the parcel comprises three lots (14-5, 12-6-7 and 8) totaling about 22,500 square feet. Under the proposal, 1,347 square feet adjacent to Lot 8 would be rezoned from R-3 (single-family residential) to B-1 (limited business) to incorporate the existing storefront; north of Lot 8, about 3,500 square feet currently zoned B-1 would be rezoned to R-3. The applicant intends to realign lot lines so Lots 6 and 7 can be developed as single-family dwellings.

Skelton reviewed relevant dimensional standards from the Radford zoning ordinance, including typical R-3 minimum lot size and frontage and B-1 setback standards when abutting residential uses. Planning Commission members asked clarifying questions about the future use of Lot 8 and how the proposal aligns with the city’s medium-density residential future land-use designation.

Because no one from the public spoke, the council and planning commission closed the public hearing the same night. Planning staff and the Planning Commission will continue review; no vote or formal council action was taken at the meeting.

The matter will return to the Planning Commission and to council for subsequent action after staff and the commission complete their review.